Motor vehicle door having highly reflective luminant component on lower interior edge

Abstract

A motor vehicle door having a lower door flange defined on the door adjacent to a door lower edge, between a lower portion of the side edges of the door, and a luminant component applied to overlie at least a portion of the lower door flange of the door, so that the luminant component reflects light to the inside of the door.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A motor vehicle door, comprising:
 an exterior facing side, an opposite interior facing side, and two side faces connecting said exterior facing side to said interior facing side; 
 wherein said interior facing side comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer side edge, and an opposite inner side edge, wherein said inner and outer side edges each have a lower edge portion, and wherein a lower door flange is defined on said interior facing side of said door, generally adjacent to said lower edge and between said lower edge portions of said inner and outer side edges; and 
 a highly reflective luminant component applied to overlie at least a portion of said lower door flange of said door, so that said luminant component reflects light from an external source, outwardly from said interior facing side of said door. 
 
     
     
       2. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said luminant component is visible when said door is opened and is concealed when said door is closed. 
 
     
     
       3. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said luminant component further comprises means for lighting said luminant component. 
 
     
     
       4. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said luminant component is a member selected from the group consisting of a reflective adhesive strip and a reflective paint. 
 
     
     
       5. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said luminant component is spaced apart from said lower edge of said door. 
 
     
     
       6. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said luminant component extends substantially the entire length of said lower edge of said door. 
 
     
     
       7. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said luminant component extends generally horizontally and generally parallel to said lower edge of said interior facing side of said door. 
 
     
     
       8. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket which overlies a portion of said lower door flange, and wherein said luminant component is applied to overlie said gasket. 
 
     
     
       9. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said luminant component is applied to overlie said gasket and said lower door flange. 
 
     
     
       10. The motor vehicle door according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said gasket comprises a straight portion which extends generally parallel with said lower edge of said door and a curved end portion disposed generally adjacent to said outer side edge of said door, which curves upwardly towards said upper edge of said door. 
 
     
     
       11. A motor vehicle door, comprising:
 an exterior facing side, an opposite interior facing side, and two side faces connecting said exterior facing side to said interior facing side; 
 wherein said interior facing side comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer side edge, and an opposite inner side edge, wherein said inner and outer side edges each have a lower edge portion, and wherein a lower door flange is defined on said interior facing side of said door, generally adjacent to said lower edge and between said lower edge portions of said inner and outer side edges; and 
 a highly reflective luminant component having an adhesive underside applied to overlie at least a portion of said lower door flange of said door and an outwardly facing exposed side which is highly reflective, so that said outwardly facing exposed side of said luminant component reflects light outwardly from said interior facing side of said door. 
 
     
     
       12. A motor vehicle door, comprising:
 an exterior facing side, an opposite interior facing side, and two side faces connecting said exterior facing side to said interior facing side; 
 wherein said interior facing side comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, an outer side edge, and an opposite inner side edge, wherein said inner and outer side edges each have a lower edge portion, and wherein a lower door flange is defined on said interior facing side of said door, generally adjacent to said lower edge and between said lower edge portions of said inner and outer side edges; 
 a gasket which overlies a portion of said lower door flange; and 
 a highly reflective luminant component applied to overlie both said gasket and at least a portion of said lower door flange adjacent to said gasket, so that said luminant component reflects light outwardly from said interior facing side of said door.